The Other Wines in the House - 2003 Chappellet Prichard Hill Cabernet Franc

Another goodie pulled from the depths of my wine cellar.  One of these days I must go in and take inventory of what I have and need to drink NOW.

This Cabernet Franc is from the original Cab Franc vines planted on Pritchard Hill in 1989.  The grapes were harvested at brix of 27 between October 15 and 18, 2003.  The wine is a blend of 77% Cabernet Franc, 7% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Malbec and 2% Petit Verdot.  It clocks in at 15% alcohol.  The wine was bottled after it spent 18 months in 60% new oak.

The nose was filled with plum, black cherry and hints of black pepper.  Background notes of cedar and dark chocolate became apparent as the wine began to open.

The palate opened up nicely to red fruit and cherry.  Nuances of forest pine and earth make showed as flavors of black tea and tobacco round out the taste.  The finish...my favorite, black pepper spice! That has become my personal benchmark for Cab Franc.